On
Saturday, 1st April 2006, seven members of the Parliamentary Labour
Party who are prominent members of the Labour Friends of India (LFIN)
parliamentary group left Britain to visit India on an organised
visit. The delegation will visit the cities of Delhi and Kolkata
during their eight day programme and returns to Britain on 9th April
2006.

Asked
about the visit, Stephen Pound MP, Chairman of LFIN, said "these
visits have provided our delegates in the past with the opportunity
to understand and see for them-selves the real India. The delegates
return having forged strong links and established a connection with
the many people we meet with in industry, business, politics and
civic society."

The
delegation will visit Delhi and meet with senior politicians such
as Kamal Nath, Union Minister for Commerce & Industry; LK Advani,
Leader of the Opposition; Sheila Dikshit, Chief Minister of Delhi;
Anand Sharma, Minister for External Affairs and others. As part
of industry, FICCI and CII will provide perspectives on the Indian
economy and convey the key issues of significance to India viz international
trade & investment. The delegates will also visit Indraprastha
Apollo Hospital; take a ride on the Delhi metro; visit the visa
section of the British High Commission and view the activity of
a call centre operated by HCL which has an operation employing over
1000 people in Belfast.

In
Kolkata, the delegates will meet the Governor of West Bengal, Chief
Minister of West Bengal; participate in a round table meeting with
local businesses organised by FICCIs eastern region and also
meet the state governments nodal investment agency 
the West Bengal Industrial Development Corporation. Whilst in Kolkata,
the delegation will visit a development project that is funded by
the Dept. for International Development.

Regarding
Kolkata, Mr Pound added "As UK politicians, we recognise the
emerging significance of this super city of 13 million people with
its massively exciting programme of new industry and infrastructure
and by visiting we hope to learn a little more of the way the city
works, particularly as well be there in the midst of the state
elections."